The year he turned 18, he made his K League debut with FC Seoul. That year Seoul won the Samsung Hauzen Cup for the first time in six years, and Segye Ilbo named him among the reserve-team players who filled gaps left by starters.
The breakthrough yearIn 2007, he played at the U-20 World Cup in Canada alongside Ki Sung-yueng. MK Sports writes that playing at this tournament made his name known nationwide.
The year he turned 20, he was first called up to Huh Jung-moo’s national team. On May 31 he started in place of Seol Ki-hyeon in the World Cup third-round qualifier against Jordan and made his senior debut, setting up a goal by Park Ji-sung. In July he made the final squad for the Beijing Olympics. In July 2009, he agreed to join Bolton, and in September he scored his first Premier League goal, against Birmingham. In 2010, he scored an equalizing header against Uruguay in the World Cup round of 16 in South Africa.
In 2011, he suffered a double fracture of the shin in a preseason match, and recovery was expected to take at least nine months. In 2013, he scored five goals in the Championship. In 2014, he played at the World Cup in Brazil.
In 2015, he moved to Crystal Palace on a three-year contract, and in August scored his first goal in a Palace shirt, in a cup match. In 2016, he scored a header against China in the Russia World Cup final qualifying round. In 2018, a loan transfer to Bolton that had been pursued fell through. In 2019, he played for Bochum in the German second division.
In 2020, he joined Ulsan Hyundai and returned to the K League, and in December won the AFC Champions League with the club. In 2022, he won the MVP award in the season Ulsan won the K League 1 for the first time in 17 years. In 2023, he was part of Ulsan’s second straight K League 1 title. In 2024, Ulsan won a third straight title.
In October 2025, he scored a penalty against Gwangju. In January 2026, he ended his six years with Ulsan, and in February joined Incheon United and made his debut against Seoul.
Lee Chung-yong (born 1988) made his K League debut with FC Seoul in 2006, the year he turned 18, and became known in 2007, the year he turned 19, when he played at the U-20 World Cup in Canada. On May 31, 2008, the year he turned 20, he made his senior debut and set up a goal by Park Ji-sung, and in 2009 he moved to Bolton Wanderers.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.